U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NIH News
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)<http://www.ninds.nih.gov/>
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, August 10, 2022
CONTACT: Erin Bryant, 301-496-5751, <e-mail:nindspressteam@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
MEDIA ADVISORY
BLOOD-BASED BIOMARKERS HELP PREDICT OUTCOMES AFTER TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
Proteins measured on the day of injury could help determine prognosis
WHAT:
A study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that biomarkers present in the blood on the day of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can accurately predict a patient's risk of death or severe disability six months later. Measuring these biomarkers may enable a more accurate assessment of patient prognosis following TBI, according to results published today in Lancet Neurology.
Researchers with the Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in TBI (TRACK-TBI <https://tracktbi.ucsf.edu/transforming-research-and-clinical-knowledge-tbi>) study examined levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) -- proteins found in glial cells and neurons, respectively -- in nearly 1,700 patients with TBI. TRACK-TBI is an observational study aimed at improving understanding and diagnosis of TBIs to develop successful treatments.
The study team measured the biomarkers in blood samples taken from patients with TBI on the day of their injury and then evaluated their recovery six months later. Participants were recruited from 18 high-level trauma centers across the United States. More than half (57%) had suffered TBI as the result of a road traffic accident.
The study showed that GFAP and UCH-L1 levels on the day of injury were strong predictors of death and unfavorable outcomes, such as vegetative state or severe disability requiring daily assistance to function. Those with biomarker levels among the highest fifth were at greatest risk of death in the six months post-TBI, with most occurring within the first month.
GFAP and UCH-1 are currently used to aid in the detection of TBI. Elevated levels in the blood on the day of the TBI are linked to brain injury visible with neuroimaging. In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved use of these biomarkers to help clinicians decide whether to order a head CT scan to examine the brain after mild TBI.
The new study suggests that GFAP and UCH-L1 may also help to predict recovery, particularly among patients with moderate to severe TBI. The biomarkers improved the accuracy of current prognostic models.
The researchers found that the predictive value of the biomarkers was strongest for patients with moderate to severe TBI. However, the biomarkers did not accurately predict who would experience incomplete recovery -- moderate disability but able to live independently -- at six months.
Although additional studies are necessary to reproduce the results, the findings indicate that blood-based biomarkers may help clinicians and researchers better predict patient outcomes after TBI.
WHO:
Nsini Umoh, Ph.D., Program Director, NINDS, is available to discuss the study findings, TRACK-TBI, and current traumatic brain injury research. To arrange an interview, please contact <e-mail:NINDSPressTeam@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>.
ARTICLE:
Korley FK, et al. Prognostic value of day-of-injury plasma GFAP and UCH-L1 levels for predicting functional recovery in the TRACK-TBI cohort: an observational cohort study <https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(22)00256-3/fulltext>. Sept 2022. Lancet Neurology; 21:803-813.
TRACK-TBI is sponsored by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (Grant # U01 NS1365885), US Department of Defense, Abbott Laboratories, One Mind.
NINDS <https://www.ninds.nih.gov/> is the nation's leading funder of research on the brain and nervous system. The mission of NINDS <https://www.ninds.nih.gov/glossary?title=NINDS> is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease.
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit <https://www.nih.gov>.
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